Quizlet and Kahoot – two powerful tools in language teaching

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Beate Luo

e-mail: beate@fcu.edu.tw

Abstract
For most European languages, grammar teaching is an important feature of language

instruction due to verb conjugations and noun declinations that, if incorrect, can lead to

misunderstandings. In this study, two e-learning platforms that can be used on mobile phones were

integrated into classroom activities: Quizlet for studying vocabulary and Kahoot for evaluating

students’ grammar exercises. Quizlet (https://quizlet.com) is a learning platform for anything that

needs to be memorized. Four learning modes and two games are available on the platform. There is

also a Quizlet App available. While it allows for studying offline, it provides only three learning

modes and one game. In each study mode, several setting options are available, such as audio on or

off or on only for term or definition, normal speed or slow for the audio, starting with term or

definition, etc. Each study mode or game shows a progress bar where students can check how far

they have gotten. Pictures can be added to each term or definition either from the library or

uploaded from other sources.

Before doing grammar exercises, students are given time to first practice old and new

vocabulary using Quizlet, to allow for a better understanding of class content and improving their

language use. After completing the exercises in their textbook, Kahoot is used to evaluate students’

answers. Kahoot (https://create.kahoot.it/) is a game based learning platform for schools. Teachers

can search the library for Kahoots already prepared by others or create their own. A Kahoot can also

be duplicated and then adapted to new content, which saves time when producing several Kahoots

with the same settings. Pictures can be uploaded for each question, so that vocabulary content may

be reinforced. A YouTube video can be added to the set, which is then played while students join the

Kahoot. These might, for example, be music videos with songs in the language students are learning

and teachers may challenge students to listen for words they have already learned, thus also
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Department of Foreign Languages and Literature, Feng Chia University
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increasing learning opportunities while stimulating students and, hopefully, increasing their

motivation to learn the language.

Students join by going to: https://kahoot.it/#/ on any smart device or computer, and enter the

game pin and their name. The questions are displayed one after the other on the white board and

students need to choose the correct answer by checking the color that matches the correct answer.

After time is up or all students have answered, the student can see on his/her device if the chosen

answer was correct, while a summary of the results is shown on the white board. This enables the

teacher to better understand where students still struggle as correct and incorrect answers are

presented after each question, giving the teacher the opportunity to explain why specific answers

were correct or incorrect. This is much more effective than walking through a classroom to check

students’ individual answers in their textbooks or to collect students answers and evaluate them

after class. Kahoots can also be given as a so-called Blind-Kahoot, i.e. before students have learned

the subject to be introduced in class, e.g. grammar rules. During the Kahoot play, students then try

to figure out these rules when they see the correct and incorrect answers.

After a game, a scoreboard is displayed that shows the three top players, and students can give

feedback as to whether they learned something, if they recommend the game, how they feel, and

they can give up to 5 stars. Teachers can download results, reaction times, and also feedback on an

Excel spread sheet or web page to evaluate the learning of the students and highlight where follow

up work may be needed. Students’ responses to Quizlet and Kahoot have been very positive as

students find Quizlet to be very effective for vocabulary learning and they like the game-like

experience of Kahoot.

Keywords: Innovative teaching, learning outcome, vocabulary acquisition